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This keto carrot cake recipe is moist, fluffy, and made in just one bowl! Simple ingredients and easy to prepare, it is a low carb dessert that is sure to impress!
Cake is something that should be part of any diet out there.
As someone who follows a low carb diet, desserts are something I continue to enjoy on a regular basis. There is an unfair stigma that cake is a high carb dessert. When made with sugar and flour, that is the case. However, with a few simple swaps, you can replicate many popular cakes without all the carbs.
My favorites include a German chocolate cake, lemon cake, and a carrot cake.
Are carrots keto friendly?
Carrots are one of the higher carb vegetables. Per one cup serving, there are 9 grams of net carbs.
While eating carrots alone on a keto diet isn’t recommended, you can add into recipes without affecting the carb count too much. One delicious way to use it is in a carrot cake…low carb style!
Why you’ll love this keto carrot cake recipe–
- Just 3 grams net carbs. Each slice yields less than 3 grams of carbs, so no fears of kicking yourself out of ketosis.
- Made in one bowl. No multiple mixing bowls or kitchen mixers are required.
- No coconut flour. Unlike other low carb desserts, this cake doesn’t use any coconut flour. Instead, we use almond flour!
The texture of the cake is super moist and fluffy, with a tender crumb, and the frosting is creamy. The cake is sweet and with hints of spice, without being overpowering. This is the kind of cake that will have people sneaking a second slice, keto diet or not!
How do you make a low carb carrot cake?
The Ingredients
- Almond flour- It is best to use blanched almond flour, not almond meal. While the latter can be used, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time to avoid the cake sinking in the middle.
- Baking powder and baking soda- A combination of the baking powder and soda is used to give the cake some fluffiness and rise.
- Cinnamon and nutmeg- A mix of the two spices are necessary for any good carrot cake!
- Salt- Brings out the sweetness of all the other ingredients.
- Eggs- Room temperature eggs. If you’d like to make this eggless, try one of these substitutes.
- Granulated sweetener of choice- I used a brown sugar substitute, but allulose will also work.
- Vanilla extract- A must for any excellent cake!
- Oil- Any neutral flavored oil can be used. I used vegetable oil, but canola and avocado oil can also be used.
- Carrots- Finely shredded carrots.
- Shredded coconut- Unsweetened shredded coconut flakes or finely milled coconut flakes (desiccated/macaron style) can be used.
- Shredded Apple- While apples are not technically keto, a small amount is used to give extra moisture and sweetness to the cake. It’s a replacement for pineapple, which is extremely high in carbs. If you are worried about using apples, you can also use shredded zucchini.
- Walnuts- Optional, but gives some delicious crunch throughout.
- Cream cheese frosting- I used a simple keto frosting.
The Instructions
Prepare the cake batter: Start by mixing your dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add the wet ingredients and mix-ins and mix until a smooth batter remains.
Bake the cake: grease two 8-inch cake pans and lightly dust with extra almond flour. Evenly distribute the cake batter amongst the two pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
Cool the cake: Let the cakes cool completely.
Frost, layer, and decorate: layer the cake with the frosting and let sit for 30 minutes, before serving.
Tips for success
- For decorative purposes, I made this an 8-layer cake. None of the proportions change, each cake was just sliced into 4 thin pieces.
- Greasing and dusting the pan with flour prior to adding in the batter is important to ensure the cake can easily be removed.
- Avoid over-baking the cake, as it continues to cook as it is cooling down.
Storing and freezing instructions
- To store: The cake should be stored in the refrigerator, covered, to ensure it does not become soggy in the middle and dry around the sides. The cake will keep fresh for up to 1 week.
- To freeze: Place slices of the carrot cake in a sealable container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More keto cake recipes to try
Frequently Asked Questions
Each slice of this almond flour carrot cake has just 3 grams of net carbs.
Contrary to popular belief, carrot cake is not healthier than a traditional cake. It can contain just as much fat (or carbs) as one another.
If you don’t want to use carrots, you can use shredded zucchini (with moisture squeezed out) and add carrot extract. The carrot extract has no carbs or sugar, but adds a delicious carrot flavor.
You can try an egg substitute or make a vegan carrot cake.
Keto Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- 3 cups almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 5 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sweetener of choice I used keto brown sugar, but erythritol or monk fruit sweetener can be used
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup oil I used canola oil but any neutral flavored oil can be used.
- 2 cups carrots shredded, approximately 3 large ones
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup apple shredded, approximately 1 large apple * See notes
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
- 1-2 cups cream cheese frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with cooking spray and lightly dust it with almond flour.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine your almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, and mix well. In a separate bowl, using a stick mixer, beat together the eggs and sweetener until smooth and almost double in size. Add in the vanilla extract. In a third bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients, until combined.
- Fold through the dry ingredients into the egg/sweetener/vanilla mixture, until just combined. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
- Distribute the cake batter amongst the two cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer comes out mostly clean.
- Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes, before carefully turning them on to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, layer and frost, before letting it sit for 30 minutes, before serving.
I’ve made many Carrot Cakes 🎂In my days but this one “takes the cake”😄
I have made this for work, for family, and dinners. I have yet to find anyone who believed me when I say it’s Keto friendly. The only one that can confirm is my husband. He has watched me make it to confirm because he follows a keto diet closely. So THERE! It’s delicious!
Aw thanks Catherine!
I’ve recently began learning & researching more about keto. I can honestly say you take the “confusion and overwhelming” component out of the equation and make it enjoyable. I really believe the reason people, including myself, don’t follow through with anything out of the ordinary is because it can feel too complicated. Sorry for my run on sentence…but thank you at the same time for your KISS method= Keeping It Super Simple!
Recipes look great! I can’t wait to get baking / cooking ! I have been LC/ KD for 25yrs !! Ready for some new recipes!
Thanks for the new recipes!
DrHeather
Just beautiful I added pineapple and pecan ‘ hard to believe no sugar or flour
I used Swerve sugar ‘ thank you ❤️
After making the award winning cheesecake here , my husband asked me to make a carrot cake. I found this recipe and I made it today and my husband who is a carrot cake enthusiast said it was amazing! I didn’t have nutmeg so I put in some all spice and I made the frosting with full fat Greek yogurt and honey. My husband had no idea the frosting was Greek yogurt. He thought it was cream cheese. Great recipe! Thank you
My husband and I loved this cake! I have been baking for years but I am new to using substitute sugars and “Keto” type baking. I cut the recipe in half to prevent eating cake for days (no control). The only thing that I changed to the recipe itself was to use half melted coconut oil with butter. I used parchment paper in the bottom of one cake round to ensure easy removal. Also, instead of using the frosting I dusted the top lightly with SWERVE confectioners sugar and some chopped walnuts and then a dollop of whipped cream! This will definitely be a saved recipe and a guilt free desert!
WOW 🤩 Thank YOU ! Love that it is a healthier sugar and almond flour. Excited to make for someone’s birthday treat, okay to use the pineapple instead of apples ?
I don’t see why not!
WOW 🤩 ThanK you ! I love that it’s not white sugar and almond flour . Not concerned about carbs for a birthday cake. Will it still work with pineapple instead of apple ?
Is the icing included with the 3 carbs? If so WOW!
I am diabetic. I know you are using non sugar sweetener, but does the apple raise the sugar a lot? My doctor said no fruit due to the natural sugar.
You are best to speak with your doctor, I am not a medical professional so unable to answer that.